Decoy



p 1941. J. A. LUNDGREN 2,256,778

DECOY Filed May 26, 1941 z INVENTOR.

JOfl/V g BERTZU/VDG/PFA Patented Sept. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE DECOY John A. Lundgren, Minden, Nebr.

Application May 26, 1941, Serial No. 395,257

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a decoy of the type used for attracting geese, ducks, and other wild birds which must be enticed close enough to be shot from a blind when hunting.

It is one object of the invention to provide a decoy which will closely resemble the birds to be attracted and serves very effectively to entice them close enough to be shot from a blind.

Another object of the invention is to provide a decoy having a stuffed body, neck and head reinforced by a member formed of wire and connected with the upper end of a strut which extends vertically in the body midway the length thereof and serves to reinforce the body as well as serving as a socket in which a supporting stake for the decoy is mounted.

Another object of the invention is to so form the strut that it will be firmly held in place and its upper end sealed to prevent water from entering the body through the strut and soaking the material with which the body is stuffed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a decoy which is of light weight, natural in appearance, and of sturdy construction.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the decoy partially in section and partially in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken vertically through the strut.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the strut.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the strut-engaging portion of the wire brace.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cap cut to receive the strut.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the tongues of Fig. 5 folded downwardly against the top of the cap.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the strut.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the plate at the lower end of the strut.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the plug for the upper end of the strut.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the support stake carried by the strut.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary View on an enlarged scale, taken on the line HII of Fig. 1.

This improved decoy has a body consisting of a casing l formed of canvas or other suitable fabric and having its meeting edge portions seamed to each other, as shown at 2 in Fig. 11. The casing is stuffed with a filler 3 which is formed into a compact mass under pressure, the

flller and the casing being of the proper shape end to provide its walls with outstanding flanges 9 serving as an abutment collar for the upper end of the strut. At the upper end of the strut is a head ll! formed of sheet metal and having an upper wall I l and a depending marginal wall or flange I2. The upper wall I I has tongues I3 struck from it, as shown in Fig. 5, and these tongues are folded downwardly flat against the top wall of the cap to reinforce the bead about an opening l4 formed centrally of the head.

This opening conforms to the shape of the strut and is of such dimensions that when the strut is thrust downwardly through this opening, it will be snugly received therein, as shown in Fig. 2, with the flanges 9 of the strut resting on the tongues [3 where they are secured by solder I5. By so mounting the head II! on the strut, it will be firmly held in place and prevented from sliding along the strut, the strut being likewise prevented from shifting longitudinally through the head when subjected to longitudinal strain.

A wire strand It serves to reinforce the body of the decoy, a portion ll of the strand being bent upwardly to extend through the neck and having its upper end portion bent forwardly to form an arm l8 extending through the head 6 of the decoy and into the bill 1. Intermediate its length, the strand is coiled, as shown in Fig. 4, to provide a ring l9 which is of such dimensions that it will fit snugly within the cup-shaped head I0, where it is secured by bending lower portions of the flange or wall I2 inwardly and upwardly into clamping engagement with .the ring or coil l9. Slots 20 are formed in the flange to receive portions of the strand l6 which extend forwardly and rearwardly from the ring at diametrically opposite points and, since the portions l2 of the flange or wall l2 are pressed Very firmly Into gripping engagement with convolutions of the ring or coil, the reinforcing wire strand will be held in place and extend longitudinally of the body along the back thereof. The rear end port1on of the strand is folded back upon itself and forms an eye or loop 2| which projects outwardly 'ceive the strut.

the strut or frictional grip depended upon tohold from the rear end of the body 4 of the decoy and constitutes a hanger by means of which the dccoy may be suspended from a hook, nail, or other V A plug 22, which is suitable overhead support. formed of wood, is fitted into the upper end of the strut, and since this plug fits tightly into the strut, it will serve very effectively to prevent water from flowing through the tube and soaking the filler 3 with which the casing is stuffed.

Referring to Fig.1, it willbe seen that the lower end of the strut passes through the lower portion of the casing land carries a bottom plate 1 i side walls of the strut. These tongues are cut I fromthe central portion of the bottom plate and. when bent upwardly, form an opening 25'to re- The tongues may be soldered to the plate in place about the lower end ofthe strut. When the decoy is in use, it is to beset up in marshyland in a position naturally assumed by wildgeese or other birds which the decoy is intended to simulate. In order to so support 5 the :de coy, there has been provided a stake 25 l which is tapered to a point at its lower end, in 3 order that the-stake may be easily thrust into the ground. The upper portion of the stake is of reduced: thickness to provide a shank 21 which conforms ,to the cross sectional shape of the strut and fits snugly therein. A shoulder 28 at the lower end of the shank limits move- Therefore, .the filling will not become soaked and j soggy. When the decoys are removed from the 1 positions in which they have been placed for use, the stakes are withdrawn fromthe' struts and put away and the decoys-hung up by the 1- loops 2.! so that they will be thoroughly dried. Having thus. described the invention, what is i claimed is: 4 I A decoy comprising a body having a neck and .a head, a strand extending longitudinallyrin the body along the back thereofwith a portion bent to extend through the neck and the head, 5.0 .a tubular strut extending vertically in the body intermediate the length thereof and having its g upper end connected with said strand and its lower end open and exposed through the bottom of the body, and a supporting stake having its upper portion removablyreceived in the strut through. the open lower end thereof, said stake 1 being provided with -ashoulder for engaging 1 the, strut and limiting movement'of the stake into. the.strut.. 3 2.v A decoy comprising :a body having acasing and afillenthe body being formed with a neck 1 and ahead carried by the neck, a strand extend- 1 ing longitudinally through the body along the back. thereof and having its forward portion bent tolextend through the neck and the head,

the rear portionofthe strand being bent, to

- form a loop projecting from the rear end of I the body, a hollow strut disposed-vertically in the body substantially midway the length there'- of and having its upper end connected with the strand, said strut having its lower end open and 3. A decoy comprising a body having a casing and a filler, the body being formed with a neck and a head carried by the neck a strand extending longitudinally through the body along the back thereof and having its forward portion bent to extend through the neck and the head, an intermediate portion of the strand being bent to form a ring, a hollow strut disposed vertically in the body and having its upper end connected with said ring, the lower end of the strut being open and exposed through the bottom of the body, and a stake having its upper portion removably received in the strut through the open lower end thereof.

4. A decoy comprising a body having a casin and a filler, the body being formed with a neck and a head carried by the neck, a strand extending longitudinally through the body along the back thereof and having its forward portion bent to extend through the neck and the head, an intermediate portion of the strand being bent to form a ring, a hollow strut disposed vertically in the body and having its upper-end connected with said ring and its lower end open and exposed through the bottom of the body, a collar fitting about the upper portion of said strut and having an upper wall formed with a strut-receiving opening and a depending wall formed with slots receiving portions of the strand in front of and back of the ring, said depending wall being bent inwardly tion bent to extend through the neck and the head, an intermediate portion of the strand being bent to forma ring, a hollow strut disposed vertically in the body and having its lower end open and exposed through the bottom of the'body, a collar fitting about the upper portion of said strut and having an upper wall formed with a strut-receiving opening and a depending wall formed with slots receiving portions of the strand in front of and back of the ring, the opening in the upper wall being formed by tongues cut therefrom and bent fiat against the outer face of the wall about the opening, flanges at therupper end of the strut projecting laterally therefrom and secured flat against the tongues of the collar, and a stake having its upper portion removably received in the strut through the open lower end thereof.

6. A decoy comprising a body having a casing and a filler, the body being formed with a neck and a head carried by the neck, a strand extending longitudinally through the body along the back thereof and having its forward portion bent to extend through the neck and the head,

an intermediate portion of the strand being bent to form a ring, a hollow strut disposed vertically in the body and having its lower end open and exposed through the bottom of the body, a V-collar fitting about the upper portion of said strut and having an upper wall formed with a strut-receiving opening and a depending wall formed with slots receiving portions of the strand in front of and back of the ring, the

eopening in the upper wall being formed by tongues cut therefrom and. bent fiat against the outer face of the wall about the opening, flanges at the upper end of the strut projecting laterally therefrom and secured flat against the tongues of the collar, a plug filling the upper end of said strut and constituting an upper closure therefor, a bottom plate disposed against the under face of the body and formed. with an opening receiving the lower end of the strut and bordered by upstanding tongues engaging outer surfaces of walls of the strut, and a. stake having a tapered lower portion, the upper portion of the stake being removably received in the strut through the open lower end thereof and provided with a shoulder adjacent the under face of the bottom plate to limit movement of the stake into the strut.

JOHN A. LUNDGREN. 

